Pinned for performance

Expander is helping mining operations improve heavy equipment reliability with changes to one of the smallest but most critical components: pivot pins.

As mining operations grow in complexity, size and scope, so too must the equipment deployed on sites.

In modern mining operations, miners would be hard pressed to find a site without multiple hundred-tonne trucks transporting personnel, equipment or minerals from place to place.

As these giants continue to excavate and transport, the smallest of issues can create the biggest problems. In some cases, that problem is as small as a loose pivot pin.

This often under-appreciated component may seem insignificant, but it’s a key mechanism in heavy machinery, from haul trucks and dozers to rope shovels and excavators.

No matter how good greasing habits or maintenance intervals are, mounting lugs will wear and will need to be restored to their original diameter and tolerances. This can be a time-consuming process, especially if equipment needs to be shipped to workshops or maintenance bays while operating in remote locations.

Nord-Lock Group, a global leader in bolting and engineering solutions, has a solution – Expander System pivot pins.

Part of the Nord-Lock Group, Expander System has been described as a permanent answer to lug wear and has been installed more than two million times since its conception in 1985.

With an adaptable design for any obstacle, lubrication and application, the system can be used widely across many original equipment manufacturer (OEM) systems and equipment.

Expander System is appealing in its simplicity. The wear-resistant system’s pivot pin solution uses tapered ends and expanding sleeves to remove play, reduce friction and eliminate micro-movement.

With Expander System sleeves conforming to fit worn lug bores, they not only prevent further wear but remove the need for welding or line boring.

“The tapered sleeve expands across both ends of the tapered axel and locks securely, even if the holes are worn,” Expander sales manager APAC Paul Yoong said.

“As there is no need for welding or line boring, installation can be carried out directly on site. Just torque and retorque the Expander System until the sleeves are fully expanded and seated in the mounting lugs.”

For mine sites, the benefits are tangible: operations are safer and more predictable, while maintenance becomes faster and easier to manage.

Proven across mining fleets

Expander’s systems have been successfully implemented by some of the biggest OEMs serving the Asia-Pacific market, including Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) and Komatsu.

As the official supplier of Volvo CE, Expander has more opportunities to equip a globally trusted equipment manufacturer with the innovative pivot pin system.

Expander worked with SMS Equipment, one of the largest independent Komatsu dealers, to support the deployment and servicing of ultra-class haul trucks, such as the Komatsu 980E Canada. On a project in Alberta, Expander pins were used not only as a service replacement component but integrated directly into original build assembly, marking a shift away from traditional clearance-fit pin designs.

The results were faster assembly, improved technician safety, and reduced downtime over the equipment lifecycle.

In North American mining operations, the pivot pins have been a key application in Caterpillar 793B haul trucks as far back as 2008.

Teaming up with KEC Wyoming, a major distributor of off-road equipment, Expander worked to address maintenance issues facing a fleet of mining trucks.

The 50 Caterpillar 793B trucks were crucial to a coal mining operation in the Powder River Basin. Despite the area’s renowned coal mining prowess, operations were struggling with prolonged downtimes for the trucks used to haul coal.

Worn and damaged lug-ear bores had made replacing their trucks’ stabiliser and suspension pins so time-consuming that concerns were growing about the impact on the operation’s bottom line.

This minor yet important upgrade showcases Expander’s capabilities in both supporting operations improve efficiency whilst also tailoring it to the specific needs of those it serves.

“Whatever machine wear challenge you have, we have a pivot pin solution ready to be designed,” Yoong said.

“Our wide product range, together with the option to order bespoke specials, will give you the pin that perfectly matches your machine.

“The optimal design means you get a permanent solution to lug wear.”

This feature appeared in the July 2026 issue of Australian Mining magazine.